Orthopedic lumbar apparatus

Abstract

A method and apparatus for relieving or preventing back pain and therapeutically treating back ailments by exerting suspensory force on the torso in the rib cage region through the connection of opposing sides of that region each to a strut which rests upon a surface on which the wearer is sitting or standing and is of a sufficient length to bear at least a portion of the body weight, thereby relieving weight from the lumbar region of the spine and further for cyclically stretching the lumbar region of the spine. The connection is made by means such as two corselets which are attached to struts, the lower ends of which form feet to rest on the surface on which the wearer is seated or is standing. Inhalation and exhalation and tightening or releasing of the stomach muscles by the wearer serve to cyclically increase the suspensory force and apparatus for mechanically assisting in this cyclical variation is provided.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A spinal compression relieving and stretching apparatus comprising: a first and a second corselet, each contoured generally to fit on the sides of the lower torso of the wearer of the apparatus; and   a first and a second strut, each pivotally attached to a respective one of the corselets, and extending in the direction of the hips of the wearer, each of a sufficient length to extend to contact a surface upon which the wearer is sitting when the wearer is in, the sitting position, and to exert a suspending force on the corselets at generally the lower rib cage of the wearer   the pivotal attachment of the struts to the corselets permitting rotation of the torso by forward and backward rocking motion by the wearer.   
     
     
       2. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising: a foot at the terminal end of each strut for engaging the surface on which the wearer is sitting or standing; and   the attachment of the each of the first and second struts to its respective corselet includes a length adjusting apparatus with a means for selectively adjusting the length of the strut between the length adjusting apparatus and the foot, and for locking the strut to that selected length.   
     
     
       3. The apparatus of claim 2 further comprising: a holding strap having at either end thereof a pouch, and having a sufficient length for each pouch to extend over the respective edge of a seat in which the wearer is sitting, such that each pouch extends substantially vertically at the respective edge of the seat, with each pouch of a size sufficient to receive and hold a respective foot.   
     
     
       4. The apparatus of claim 2 further comprising: a pair of pouch suspension straps each having a hooking member at one end thereof, whereby the suspension strap is hooked over a respective arm of an armchair in which the wearer is sitting, and at the other end thereof a pouch of sufficient size to receive and hold a respective foot.   
     
     
       5. The apparatus of claim 4 further comprising: force exerting means for selectively applying and releasing a force on each of the respective pouches in a direction decreasing the horizontal distance between the pouches.   
     
     
       6. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the terminal end of each foot is a curved surface. 
     
     
       7. The apparatus of claim 2 further comprising: a cleat mounted on each foot; and   a strap having at each end thereof at least one cleat-receiving eyelet.   
     
     
       8. The apparatus of claim 2 further comprising: a cleat mounted on each foot;   a pair of suspension straps each having a hooking member at one end of each, whereby the suspension strap is hooked over a respective arm of an armchair in which the wearer is sitting, and at the other end thereof at least one cleat-receiving eyelet.